Taiwan's Hualien County council speaker Chang Chun has been cleared of bribery after a 13-year legal fight — good news for him as he runs for county magistrate.

• Chang was accused of taking a payoff from an LED lighting supplier in 2012 to help it win township construction contracts.
• A lower court gave him nearly eight years in prison, but the appeals court found the evidence too weak and acquitted him.
• Taiwan's top court has now thrown out the prosecution's final appeal, making the acquittal permanent.
• Chang says the ruling clears his name and he will keep campaigning, pointing to jobs, transport, youth business support and elderly care in Hualien.

Outlook: With the case closed, Chang can campaign for the magistrate's seat without the corruption charge hanging over him.